Betsan O'Connor

ERW Managing Director

Betsan was appointed as the first Managing Director of ERW in May 2014. Betsan has come to the ERW region from Estyn via a secondment with the Welsh Government.

As HMI for 9 years Betsan worked primarily in the field of Local Authority inspections but has also worked across the range of Estyn’s responsibilities in inspecting FE, WBL, secure estate, careers and Youth support services.

In 2010-11, Betsan was successfully appointed on secondment as the first Strategic Manager for the Joint Inspectorate Programme – a partnership between Estyn, The Wales Audit Office, the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales and Health Inspectorate Wales.

As Manager of Local Authority Intervention and Support in Welsh Government, Betsan’s role focussed on providing support and building capacity in local authorities and regional consortia. Specifically, Betsan was responsible for developing an approach to supporting local authorities in need of external intervention.

Key responsibilities and professional interests include strategic planning; improvement strategies; and programme management. In her new role as Managing Director Betsan will be instrumental in driving the regional strategy forward.

Alan Edwards

Head of Teaching and Learning

Alan Edwards began his teaching career at Ysgol Dewi Sant, Pembrokeshire, where he was responsible for teaching mathematics across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5. During his time in this school, he was appointed to the role of Head of the Mathematics and ICT faculty and later became ALNCO.

He also has significant experience in working with children across all phases throughout primary. Alan was seconded from this post to Pembrokeshire Local Authority as an Advisory Teacher for Mathematics and Numeracy in 2012 and later became the Challenge Adviser for Mathematics and Numeracy and subsequently a Challenge Adviser for schools.

He is a trained Estyn Inspector for both primary and secondary schools. He has a Masters of Research in Education where he focused on making use of concrete resources to improve mathematical education.

Alan is now the Head of Teaching and Learning for ERW. In this role he is responsible for implementing the regional strategy to support schools to implement and develop curriculum change and to improve the quality of teaching and learning.

Aneirin Thomas

Head of Support and Performance

Following his graduation, Aneirin worked in a number of schools and Local Authorities serving as a Head teacher and working within school improvement over a period of twenty years. His work has involved strategic planning and system development as well as leading on key areas in teacher assessment.

Having worked as a Challenge Adviser with Carmarthenshire for two years, Aneirin was appointed as Area Lead, mainly supporting primary and secondary schools in the Carmarthen area and also leading on school performance and teacher assessment. He has worked closely with schools requiring significant improvement, supporting both Head teachers and Governing Bodies.

Aneirin is currently working as part of the Central ERW team, leading on areas of support, quality and performance. His main responsibilities are in the field of developing effective systems to streamline the work of Challenge Advisers and ensuring high quality support and challenge for schools across the region. Aneirin is also the Lead Verifier for ERW as part of the national Securing Teacher Assessment Programme.

Yan James

Head of Leadership

Yan began his teaching career at Cwmtawe Comprehensive School in 1983 after graduating in Welsh Language and Literature from Cardiff University. He taught both first and second language Welsh to A level. He was subsequently appointed to Head of the Welsh Department at the school.

After eleven years in the secondary sector, Yan transferred to the Welsh medium primary sector where, following successful completion of the NPQH, he was appointed as headteacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Ynysgedwyn in Ystradgynlais. During his time in the primary sector, he was seconded to Powys LA for two years as an advisory teacher for Welsh first language and represented Powys on the WJEC steering group for Welsh.

Yan transferred into the Powys Schools Service in 2006 as a School Improvement Officer and has led a number of key areas in the LA, including leadership, wellbeing, NQTs and Welsh and English. Following seven years as a School Improvement Officer for primary, secondary and special schools, Yan was appointed as Senior Challenge Advisor in 2014 and was lead officer for school improvement in Powys up to 2017.

He is co-author of the Welsh adaptation of Catch Up Litracy, Llythrennedd Dyfal Donc, and associated resources. Yan has been Welsh language advisor to Catch Up and an approved trainer, delivering training in both English and Welsh in many local authorities across Wales.

Yan is a team inspector with Estyn and has worked in both primary and secondary sectors.

Alun Parry

Systems and Information Officer

Alun is the Systems and Information Officer at ERW. In his role, he is responsible for managing and maintaining the ERW Hwb site, ERW website and other web resources. He is also responsible for the design, development and implementation of new information management systems. Additionally, he coordinates the design of ERW key documents and maintains all electronic communication systems.

If you have any queries regarding ERW’s systems please contact Alun on the following:-

Ceirios Williams

Workstreams Officer

Ceirios is the Workstreams Officer for ERW. In her role, she is responsible for minuting all meeting for the various workstreams and is also responsible for logging all translation queries. She also works as part of the wider administrative team who deal with phone, email and drop in queries as well as internal room bookings, catering requests, arranging video conferences and assisting with events when required with preparation beforehand and on the day.

Hazel Faulkner

Project and Resource Officer

Hazel is the Project and Resource officer for ERW. In her role, she is responsible for processing all invoices for payments to the six local authorities and to external companies. She also does the budget monitoring for all of ERW's grants and supports the Senior Accountant in her work

If you have any queries regarding payment of invoices, financial issues, budget monitoring or petty cash, please contact Hazel on the following:-

Katie Morgan

Senior Accountant

Katie is the Senior Accountant at ERW. In her role, she is primarily responsible for managing the region's finances. This includes liaising with Pembrokeshire County Council, the region's lead banker, on the preparation of the financial statements, systems and financial control measures, whilst monitoring the region's budget. She also facilitates preparation and monitoring of the region's grants, and deals with the day to day running of the finance department along with any ad hoc finance related work. Katie serves as a regional point of contact for communication with the Welsh Assembly Government regarding their awarding of grant monies.

If you have any financial queries please contact Katie on the following:

Meinir Davies

Events Officer

Meinir is the Events Officer for ERW. In her role, she is responsible for organising events which includes booking venues, creating Eventbrite invite and forward to relevant attendees, monitor attendance and provide course leader with up to date registration. She also creates, monitors and sends final version of Survey Monkey results to course providers when required. She also works as part of the wider administration team who deal with phone, email and drop in queries as well as internal room bookings and catering requests.

Osian Evans

Executive Officer

Osian is the Executive Officer to the Managing Director of ERW. In his role, he is responsible for management of the MD's diary and meeting schedule. He also handles the ERW Risk Register for the Executive Board and Joint Committee, as well as minuting the ERW Strategy and Extended Strategy Group meetings. Additionally, he is the organization's point of contact for Democratic Accountability and Scrutiny Arrangements, liaising with the Scrutiny officers in the Local Authorities.

If you have any queries regarding the Scrutiny, Governance, or Democratic Accountability of ERW, or wish to schedule a meeting with the Managing Director, please contact Osian on the following:

Mark Ford

Portfolio Lead School to School Improvement

In his role as 'Portfolio Lead for School to School Improvement', Mark works with schools, Challenge Advisers and other colleagues to identify and broker school to school collaboration as part of a self-improving school system. He works closely with the ERW Professional Learning Schools and Leadership Menu of Support Schools to develop effective, bespoke solutions that meet schools at their point of need.

Mark also leads on ERW's registry of practice worthy of sharing called DOLEN.

Sarah Perdue

Professional Learning Co-ordinator

As a Professional Learning Co-ordinator, Sarah is the Lead for developing middle leaders. This involves co-ordinating a range of training, including the ERW New and Aspiring Middle Leaders Programme for colleagues in the primary, secondary or special school sector. It is designed to offer practical advice about the role of a middle leader

Cressy Morgan

Support for Learners Coordinator

Cressy is the Support for Learners Coordinator in ERW. She is responsible for coordinating the regional projects funded by the LAC/PDG and works closely with the 6 LACE Coordinators. She chairs the LAC Working Group and represents the region at national meetings. Cressy also coordinates the ALN Innovation Fund working closely with the Heads of Inclusion in the region. Finally, she is the consortia lead on the Health and Well-beingAoLEfor the new Successful Futures curriculum.

Sara Walters

LAC/PDG Training and Quality Assurance Co-ordinator

As the LAC/PDG Training and Quality Assurance Co-ordinator, Sara is the Lead for the ERW Attachment Aware Schools Project. This involves co-ordinating a range of training, including Emotion Coaching and Attachment and Trauma Awareness, and running a comprehensive support and evaluation programme which aims to embed and evaluate the effectiveness of attachment and trauma-informed practice in schools.

Anna Vivian Jones

ERW Leader of Learning for Modern Foreign Languages

Anna Vivian Jones is the ERW Leader of Learning for Modern Foreign Languages. She supports schools across the region to facilitate the Welsh Government’s Global Futures plan, and to work towards the ambition of Bilingual and More for the young people of Wales. This includes visits to individual departments, organising workshops for pupils on the advantages of learning languages, and training teachers to prepare for changes to the curriculum.

One of her main projects is the creation of Multilingual Literacy lessons for schools, working alongside the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, including supporting primary clusters to present modern languages also. Currently, Anna is working with Pioneer Schools as the vice-chair of the languages group, Literacy and Communication, which is preparing to design the new curriculum of Wales.

Dave Barry

Strategic Lead for Successful Futures

Dave is the Strategic Lead for Successful Futures. In his role he is responsible for liaising with Schools, Regions and Welsh Government working on the planning, design and delivery of Successful Futures. The main aim of the role is to assist Pioneer and non Pioneerschools in their planning and development of the new national curriculum.

David Bradley

GCSE Project Lead for Science

David is the GCSE Project Lead for Science. He is responsible for managing the team of Leaders of Learning for science. His role involves supporting science departments in the implementation of the new science GCSEs. This includes working with teachers and heads of department to build capacity within departments to become self-improving. Key areas of David's work with schools are to develop teaching and learning and leadership including schemes of work, resources, target setting, assessment, tracking, self evaluation and quality assurance processes.

Greg Morgan

Head of Digital Learning

In his role as Head of Digital Learning, Greg is responsible for the strategic approach to digital learning in schools, at both a curriculum and professional level. He works closely with the ERW's Leaders of Learning for Digital Competence, Rob Walters and Stephen Williams. He supports the use of the Hwb platform, including tools such as Office 365, J2E, Hwb Networks and Playlists. He also leads on Online Safety and is an accredited assessor for the 360 Online Safety Mark.

If you have any queries regarding Digital Learning, the Digital Competence Framework (DCF), Online Safety and the use of Hwb and it's associated tool set, please contact Greg on the following:

Helen Davies

Leader of Learning for Mathematics

Helen Davies works as part of a team of Leaders of Learning, with responsibility for mathematics. As a team, the overall aim is to support departments and schools to improve progress and raise attainment, across the ERW region.

Helen’s role is to work with schools in the implementation of the new GCSE specification. Helen’s responsibilities are to work developmentally with schools to build capacity to be self-improving in teaching and learning, standards, and provision, through the development of bespoke schemes of learning; supporting teachers in the classroom, assisting with the production of quality resources; and help with departments’ self- evaluation and improvement systems.

Ian Altman

Strategic Lead For Secondary Support

Ian co-ordinates the support for secondary school across the region. His role includes developing teaching, learning and leadership and self-evaluation across the secondary sector as well as line-managing the team of Leaders of Learning linked to the GCSE project.

Ian also delivers training for Leaders of Learning in the secondary sector and the recently launched Teaching and Learning Networks. He sits on the GCSE Project Board and is the regional lead for A level and PISA development.

Julian Nicholds

Leader of Learning - Humanities and foundation subjects

Julian is a Leader of Learning with responsibility for developing teaching and learning in Humanities and foundation subjects. He is working with teachers and leaders in schools to develop progress and attainment in young people across the region. Julian works as part team of Leaders of Learning whose overall aim is to support departments and schools to build capacity to improve pupil progress and raise attainment across the ERW. Julian is also co-ordinating the work of Lead Practitioners in developing a range of quality resources for the use of teachers within their subject specific HWB networks.

Non Walters

Leader of Learning for Welsh

Non is the Leader of Learning for Welsh / Welsh Second language, with responsibility over teaching and learning of the new GCSE syllabus. This includes supporting individual departments and schools, organising networking meetings and working groups, holding INSET sessions, and the creation and sharing of resources through the Hwb networks – "ERW Welsh and ERW Welsh Second Language.”

Rob Walters

Leader of learning for digital competence.

Rob works with Greg Morgan and Stephen Williams as part of the ERW digital team to support local authority colleagues and schools with the implementation of the digital competence framework (DCF). His role also includes providing training for schools and ERW officers to use Hwb tools effectively. He also supports other ERW leaders of learning to improve their skills and ensure that digital competence is implemented across the curriculum. Rob creates resources for the 'ERW Digidol ERW Digital' Hwb network to support staff and schools..

Stephen Williams

Leader of Learning for Digital Competence

Stephen works with Greg Morgan, Head of Digital Learning, and Rob Walters, Leader of Learning for Digital Learning, as part of the ERW digital team. He is responsible in supporting local authority colleagues and schools across ERW with the implementation of the digital competence framework (DCF). Within his role, Stephen promotes the use of Hwb as a digital platform across the region and also develops and shares resources for the 'ERW Digidol ERW Digital' Hwb network. He also supports other ERW Leaders of Learning to improve their skills and ensure that digital competence is implemented across the curriculum.

Stuart Jacob

Leader of Learning for Primary Science

Stuart is the ERW Leader of Learning for Primary Science. In his role he is responsible for developing the teaching and learning of science within primary schools across the region. He is able to provide bespoke support through assistance with resources, advice, auditing and subject leadership.

Tina Thomas

Leader of Learning for Welsh as a Second Language

Tina is the Leader of Learning for Welsh / Welsh Second language, with responsibility over teaching and learning of the new GCSE syllabus. This includes supporting individual departments and schools, organising networking meetings and working groups, holding INSET sessions, and the creation and sharing of resources through the Hwb networks – ERW Welsh and ERW Welsh Second Language.”

Eurion Jones-Williams

Research and Evaluation Officer

Eurion is the Research and Evaluation Officer at ERW. Eurion liaises on multiple research projects within the region, such as Reducing Teacher Workload, Rural Poverty with GWE and Bangor University and the Pan Wales Research Strategy with the other regions and the Education Development Trust. Eurion evaluates projects within ERW to assess their effectiveness, impact and value for money. He is responsible for collating and writing the end of year Impact report. He is responsible for analysing surveys and feedback from schools to evaluate the effectiveness and the role of ERW. This is to ensure that ERW is giving the best possible 'service' to schools. He also advises colleagues on how to best evaluate any projects and courses.